Theauthorities are the people who have the power to make decisions and to make sure that laws are obeyed.
This provided a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections.
The prison authorities have been criticised for not ending the protest more quickly.
Synonyms: powers that be, government, police, officials More Synonyms of authority
2. countable noun [oft in names]
An authority is an official organization or government department that has the power to make decisions.
...the Health Education Authority.
Any alterations had to meet the approval of the local planning authority.
3. See also local authority
4. uncountable noun
Authority is the right to command and control other people.
Local police chiefs should re-emerge as figures of authority and reassurance in theirareas.
The judge had no authority to order a second trial.
Synonyms: prerogative, right, influence, might More Synonyms of authority
5. uncountable noun
If someone has authority, they have a quality which makes other people take notice of what they say.
He had no natural authority and no capacity for imposing his will on others.
6. uncountable noun
Authority is official permission to do something.
The police were given authority to arrest anyone suspected of subversive thoughts.
7. countable noun
Someone who is an authority on a particular subject knows a lot about it.
He's universally recognized as an authority on Russian affairs. [+ on]
Synonyms: expert, specialist, professional, master More Synonyms of authority
8.
See have it on good authority
More Synonyms of authority
authority in British English
(ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others
2. (often plural)
a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc
3.
a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority)
4.
such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization
she has his authority
5.
the ability to influence or control others
a man of authority
6.
an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular field
he is an authority on Ming china
7.
evidence or testimony
we have it on his authority that she is dead
8.
confidence resulting from great expertise
the violinist lacked authority in his cadenza
9. (capital when part of a name)
a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterprise
Independent Broadcasting Authority
10. law
a.
a judicial decision, statute, or rule of law that establishes a principle; precedent
b.
legal permission granted to a person to perform a specified act
Word origin
C14: from French autorité, from Latin auctōritas, from auctorauthor
authority in American English
(əˈθɔrəti; əˈθɑrəti)
nounWord forms: pluralauˈthorities
1.
a.
the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action, or make final decisions; jurisdiction
b.
the position of one having such power
a person in authority
2.
such power as delegated to another; authorization; warrant
he has my authority to do it
3.
power or influence resulting from knowledge, prestige, etc.
4.
a.
the citation of a writing, decision, etc. in support of an opinion, action, etc.
b.
the writing, etc. cited
5.
reliability of a source or witness
6.
a. [pl.]
persons, esp. in government, having the power or right to enforce orders, laws, etc.
b.
a government agency that administers a project
7.
a person with much knowledge or experience in some field, whose information or opinion is hence reliable; expert
8.
self-assurance and expertness that come with experience
the pianist's performance lacked authority
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈinfluence, ˈpower
Word origin
ME autorite < OFr autorité, auctorité < L auctoritas < auctor, author
Examples of 'authority' in a sentence
authority
Mum was seated in her place of authority at the end of the table, surrounded by papers.
Kate Cann READY? (2002)
You better tell them; I have no authority over the apprentices,' Lori added sweetly.
Cathy Kelly JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
All this was accomplished with no architect, no foreman, no central authority.
Michael Crichton PREY (2002)
Quotations
Authority is never without hateEuripidesIon
I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth itBible: St. Matthew
All related terms of 'authority'
tax authority
the official body that administers and collects a country's taxes
anti-authority
demonstrating a rejection of authority
local authority
A local authority is an organization that is officially responsible for all the public services and facilities in a particular area.
port authority
the body with overall responsibility for a port
water authority
an official body which is responsible for providing water
authority figure
a person whose real or apparent authority over others inspires or demands obedience and emulation
aviation authority
a body that is responsible for overseeing the aviation industry
Health Authority
a government agency that is responsible for NHS care in a particular area
unitary authority
(in the United Kingdom ) a district administered by a single tier of local government , esp those districts of England that became administratively independent of the county councils in 1996–98
education authority
the department of a local authority that is concerned with education , or the government department concerned with education
Atomic Energy Authority
(in Britain) a government body established in 1954 to control research and development in atomic energy
Civil Aviation Authority
the national body governing civil aviation
Greater London Authority
the region-wide governing body for London. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers
British Airports Authority
(formerly, in Britain ) an organization that ran three state-owned airports in the London area
Financial Services Authority
(from 2001 until 2013) a regulatory body that oversaw London's financial markets, each of which had its own self-regulatory organization: it succeeded the Securities and Investments Board
local education authority
a body that is responsible for education in a particular area
Tennessee Valley Authority
a federal corporation organized in 1933 to provide cheap electric power, flood control, irrigation, etc. by developing the entire basin of the Tennessee River, esp. by building dams and reservoirs
Advertising Standards Authority
an independent UK body set up by the advertising industry to ensure that all advertisements comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice
Broadcasting Standards Authority
a New Zealand Crown Entity that develops and upholds standards of broadcasting for radio and television
Family Health Services Authority
a health board
have it on good authority
If you say you have it on good authority that something is true , you mean that you believe it is true because you trust the person who told you about it.
Palestinian National Authority
the authority formed in 1994 to govern the Palestinian Administered Territories: it controls policy on health, education , social welfare , direct taxation , tourism , and culture, and manages elections to the Palestinian Council
Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority
an organization set up by act of Parliament (1990) to control and review research involving embryos . It maintains a register of persons whose gametes are used for assisted conception
Chinese translation of 'authority'
authority
(ɔːˈθɔrɪtɪ)
n
(u) (= power) 权(權)威 (quánwēi)
⇒ He had an air of authority.他有一种权威的姿态。 (Tā yǒu yī zhǒng quánwēi de zītài.)
(u) (= right, permission) 许(許)可 (xǔkě)
⇒ The bank closed my account without my authority.银行未经我的许可就结了我的账户。 (Yínháng wèi jīng wǒ de xǔkě jiù jiéle wǒ de zhànghù.)
an authority on sth (= expert) 某方面的权(權)威 (mǒu fāngmiàn de quánwēi)
⇒ She's a world authority on heart disease.她是位心脏病方面的世界级权威。 (Tā shì wèi xīnzàngbìng fāngmiàn de shìjiè jí quánwēi.)
(c) (= government body, ruling body) 当(當)局 (dāngjú)
⇒ the local authority地方当局 (dìfāng dāngjú)
to have the authority to do sth具有做某事的权(權)力 (jùyǒu zuò mǒushì de quánlì)
Nearby words of
authority
author
authoritarian
authoritative
authority
authorize
autobiography
autograph
Related terms of
authority
local authority
an authority on sth
to have the authority to do sth
1 (noun)
Definition
a decision-making organization or government department
This was a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections.
Synonyms
powers that be
government
our system of government
police
officials
the state
management
administration
He served in posts in both the Ford and Carter administrations.
the system
the Establishment
Big Brother (informal)
officialdom
2 (noun)
Definition
the power to command, control, or judge others
The judge has no authority to order a second trial.
Synonyms
prerogative
I thought it was a woman's prerogative to change her mind?
right
a woman's right to choose
influence
As we grew older, I had less influence and couldn't control him.
might
The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
force
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
power
The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss senior ministers.
control
charge
rule
government
weight
That argument no longer carries much weight.
strength
They have their own independence movement which is gathering strength.
direction
command
licence
privilege
The ancient powers and privileges of the House of Commons.
warrant
say-so
sway
domination
jurisdiction
The British police have no jurisdiction over foreign bank accounts.
supremacy
The president asserted his supremacy over the prime minister.
dominion
ascendancy
The extremists are gaining ascendancy.
mana (New Zealand)
a leader of great mana and influence
3 (noun)
Definition
an expert in a particular field
Professor Ahmed is an authority on Russian affairs.
Synonyms
expert
an expert in computer graphics
specialist
a specialist in diseases of the nervous system
professional
a dedicated professional
master
He is a master at blocking progress.
ace (informal)
a first-world-war flying ace
scholar
guru
fashion gurus dictating crazy ideas
buff (informal)
She is a real film buff.
wizard
a mathematical wizard at Harvard University
whizz (informal)
Simon's a whizz at card tricks.
virtuoso
connoisseur
I hear you're something of an art connoisseur.
boffin (British, informal)
a computer boffin
arbiter
Sequins have often aroused the scorn of arbiters of taste.
hotshot (informal)
fundi (South Africa)
The local fundi are wonderfully adept and have created a car adapted to hunting.
4 (noun)
Definition
a position that has the power to command, control, or judge others
He has no natural authority.
Synonyms
command
the struggle for command of the air
power
women who have reached positions of great power and influence
control
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
rule
the winding-up of British rule over the territory
management
the responsibility for its day-to-day management
direction
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
grasp
Peace is now within our grasp.
sway
How can mothers keep daughters under their sway?
domination
They had five centuries of domination by the Romans.
mastery
a region where humans have gained mastery over the major rivers
dominion
They believe they have dominion over us.
5 (noun)
Definition
official permission
She must first be given authority by her board.
Synonyms
permission
They cannot leave the country without permission.
Women and children have been given permission to leave.
leave
an application for leave to appeal against the judge's order
permit
He has to apply for a permit before looking for a job.
sanction
He expressed his opposition to lifting the sanctions.
licence
Fiction gives her licence to go where the traditional biographer would not dare to tread.
approval
The proposed modifications met with widespread approval.
go-ahead (informal)
Don't do any major repair work until you get the go-ahead from your insurers.
liberty
consent
We need her consent before we submit the application.
warrant
Police have issued a warrant for his arrest.
say-so (informal)
Nothing happens without their say-so.
tolerance
justification
green light
The project was given the green light in the Chancellor's autumn budget.
assent
He gave his assent to the proposed legislation.
authorization
a request for authorization to use military force
dispensation
The committee were not prepared to grant special dispensation.
carte blanche
a blank cheque
sufferance
Quotations
Authority is never without hate [Euripides – Ion]I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it [Bible: St. Matthew]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ace
Definition
an expert
a first-world-war flying ace
Synonyms
expert,
star,
champion,
authority,
winner,
professional,
master,
pro (informal),
specialist,
genius,
guru,
buff (informal),
wizard (informal),
whizz (informal),
virtuoso,
connoisseur,
boffin (British, informal),
hotshot (informal),
past master,
dab hand (British, informal),
maven (US)
in the sense of administration
Definition
a government
He served in posts in both the Ford and Carter administrations.
Synonyms
government,
authority,
executive,
leadership,
ministry,
regime,
governing body
in the sense of approval
Definition
a favourable opinion
The proposed modifications met with widespread approval.